On 12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft. Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for 1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -
#48 Payton Graham
RHP Gonzaga
21/years old
6' 1" 215
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 |
Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50
In 2022, Gabriel Hughes popped up as an intriguing college starting
pitching option at Gonzaga and pitched his way into the first round, going No.
22 overall to the Rockies. Graham could be this year’s version of Hughes,
albeit with a little less track record. While his results in his first two
seasons with the Zags have been uneven, his stuff has incrementally improved,
and a strong fall showing has scouts in the Pacific Northwest excited about
what’s to come.
When Graham first arrived on campus, he entered college ball
with a fringy 88-91 mph fastball. In 2024, he touched 93-94 mph, and this fall
he was up to 95-97 mph with ease, sitting around 94 mph, and he commands his
heater with good life well. He has a distinct curve and slider, with the former
breaking ball a plus offering that’s a true downer-snapper kind of pitch that
misses bats. Throw in a feel for a change and there’s a chance for a real
four-pitch mix here, and the metrics behind it will play well in analytics
departments.
While Graham has grown physically and his stuff has improved,
he doesn’t have any history of success outside of a four-start stretch in the
Northwoods League last summer, and in his 60 innings to date, his command has
been spotty. He also hasn’t spent any time in Gonzaga’s rotation, so there’s a
lot to prove this spring. But if he continues to throw like he did this fall,
teams will be pouring into the Evergreen State this spring.
1-22-25 –
Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03
77. Payton Graham – RHP
HT/WT: 6’2/220 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Gonzaga | Age: 21.8
Graham has had his fair share of struggles at Gonzaga,
leading to a career 10.14 ERA, but scouts were enamored by the uptick in stuff
in a starting capacity in the Northwoods League.
Graham’s fastball velocity spiked into the mid-90s and he
held that velocity throughout outings, touching 97 MPH or higher in the 8th
inning during one start. He topped out at 98 MPH with intriguing metrics,
including solid extension and carry from a 5.6-foot release, and found the
strike zone much more consistently.
He has two distinct breaking balls that garner high chase
numbers and solid spin rates. The curveball profiles more as a sweeper with ten
inches or more of sweep, though he’s able to add/subtract depth in the low-80s.
He’ll flash a firmer cutter-slider hybrid around 90 MPH, though it’s not as
polished as the curveball.
There’s a nascent change-up in there, as well. He may be a
reliever long-term, but there’s significant arm talent here.
https://gozags.com/sports/baseball/roster/payton-graham/5464
-
2024
- West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week on Apr. 22...
appeared in 16 games with two starts... went 1-4 with 34 strikeouts over 33.1
innings pitched... finished fifth on the team in ERA (8.91), opposing batting
average (.328), and innings pitched... was the most-used arm out of the
bullpen... twice recorded season highs with 3.1 innings pitched, once notably
on Apr. 19 against Portland where he allowed just one hit and one walk while earning
the winning decision in relief in a 2-1 win.
2023
- Pitched in 13 games with one start… Threw 27 innings with
33 strikeouts on the season…Recorded a career-high 5 strikeouts on Mar. 4 at
Tennessee.
Awards and Honors
- 1x WCC Pitcher of the Week (4/22/24)
Prior to Gonzaga
- Two-sport star in football and baseball at Kamiakin High
School… Ranked No. 5 in Baseball Northwest's 2022 class rankings and listed
among the Top 25 pitchers in the state by Scorebook Live … 2021 MCC Player of
the Year and an All-League honoree at both pitcher and third base … As a
utility player for Kamiakin in football, named the 2021 MCC All-Purpose Player
of the Year... Two-time all-state in baseball, once in football.
Despite recording a 10.14 ERA over two seasons, Gonzaga
right-hander Payton Graham continues to generate buzz in MLB Draft discussions.
The 6-foot-2 junior was listed No. 48 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospect
Rankings for the 2025 draft, revealed on Dec. 5.
Entering his third season with the Zags, Graham has tallied
67 strikeouts across 60 1/3 career innings pitched. The Kennewick native has
appeared in 29 games over his first two seasons, including three starts. As a
key piece of GU’s pitching staff, Graham is expected to serve a prominent role
in the bullpen while remaining a viable option as a spot starter.
In 2024, Graham was often the first out of the bullpen and
one of GU’s high-leverage arms. He threw shutout relief innings against
Vanderbilt, Oregon State, Austin Peay, Portland and Santa Clara.
While Graham has yet to string together a series of dominant
outings, his potential lies in a fastball that now tops out at 97 mph — a
significant leap from the fringy 88-91 mph range he displayed as a freshman.
Graham complements his fastball with a curveball, slider and
changeup, which add depth to his repertoire and bolster his projection as a
potential starting pitcher.
“He has a distinct curve and slider, with the former breaking
ball a plus offering that’s a true downer-snapper kind of pitch that misses
bats,” said an MLB.com reporter of Graham. “Throw in a feel for a change and
there’s a chance for a real four-pitch mix here, and the metrics behind it will
play well in analytics departments.”
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